Vending machine



Dec. 9, 1952 n. BROYLES FETAL 2,621,096

VENDING MACHINE Filed March 26, 1948 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1 IN VEN TOR Dfi/V/EL 5/?0 YL E5, 071. w/v fPl/SSEL L .41 W BY Dec. 9, 1952 Filed March 26. 19.48

D. BROYLES EI'AL VENDING MACHINE 2 Si-IEETS-Sl-iEET 2 zn w jdu Patented Dec. 9, 1952 VENDING MACHINE Daniel Broyles and Calvin Russell, Knoxville, Tenn. said Russell assignor to said Broyles Application March 26, 1948, Serial No. 17,274

11 Claims. 1

This invention relate to improvements in vending machines, especially for dispensing a predetermined number of irregularly shaped objects, such as bullets in a shooting gallery.

Because of the shape and characteristics of cartridges and bullets, it has been difiicult to provide a machine for dispensing a predetermined number thereof, especially by coin controlled mechanism, as is desired in shooting galleries, and 'no satisfactory machine for this purpose is known to have been produced heretofore.

One object of this invention is to improve the construction of vending machines, to provide for the dispensing of cartridges by coin controlled mechanism.

A further object of the invention is to provide in a vending machine for the dispensing of a desired number of irregularly shaped objects, whereby any desired number thereof may be discharged in proper order.

Still another object of the invention is to improve the construction of a vending machine, to enable it to be constructed in a practical manner, relatively inexpensively and which will be practical for use to dispense the desired number of articles.

In carrying out these objects, the machine may be constructed with a hopper into which the articles may be placed and which hopper has provision therein for separating the articles and for discharging them in predetermined directions and order. The articles are directed through tubes from the hopper and provision is made for limiting the discharge from the tubes under control of coin-actuated mechanism, as well as for regulating the number of articles to be dispensed upon the actuation of such mechanism.

One embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of the machine;

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view thereth-rough;

Fig. 3 is a horizontal section on the line 3-3 in Fig. 2, showing the coin controlled mechanism.

Fig. 4 is a similar View through the hopper on the line 44 in Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the machine at the front thereof:

Fig. 6 is a cross section through the feed device on the line 6-6 in Fig. 5; and

Fig. 7 is a detail vertical section therethrough on the line 'I'I in Fig. 6.

The vending machine is shown as constructed with an outer shell I, sufficiently sturdy to support the operating parts of the machine and forming an enclosure which is open at the top,

as viewed in Fig. 5. The shell I may be formed of sheet-metal or of other satisfactory material sufiiciently sturdy and rigid for the purpose. stiffening angles are shown at 2 at the top thereof, and additional reinforcement may be used if desired.

Mounted in the top of the shell I is a hopper designated generally at 3, and formed by an enclosing wall 4 which tapers inwardly toward a central opening 5 in a support partition 6, that extends transversely within the shell I. The upper edges of the wall 4 are attached to the reinforcing bar-s 2 and lateral sides of th shell I. The partition 6 is mounted securely in the shell I, extending transversely thereof and supports the hopper therea'bove. At the upper end of the central opening 5, the partition 6 may be provided, if desired, with a plurality of outwardly inclined grooves 1 in the surface of the partition to facilitate the feeding of the objects downwardly from the hopper.

A deflector 8 in the form of a curved disc is mounted within the hopper 3 to deflect the objects and to direct them downward therefrom. This deflector 8 is carried bya sleeve 9, attached to the deflector and extending upwardly therefrom to a cross bar IIl, shown as supported and secured to the reinforcing bars 2. This deflector 8 supports the weight of the major portion of the articles in the hopper, allowing a gradual feeding of the articles therefrom.

Extending vertically through the shell I is a shaft I I, the upper end of which is journaled in the sleeve 9, while the lower end portion thereof is journaled in a plate I2, extending transversely in the shell I and rigidly secured thereto. This shaft II carries a cage assembly comprising top and bottom plates I3 and I4, respectively, the latter bearing upon the plate I2 and supporting the cage and shaft thereon, and a series of tubes I5 fixed at their opposite ends to the plates I3 and I 4 and open therethrough. The plate I3 is attached to a head I6. Fixed to the shaft II within the central opening 5 of the partition 6. The head I6 is provided with a series of grooves I 8, in its periphery, as shown in Fig. 4, which grooves are in vertical alignment with the tube l5 and direct the articles into the tubes, as the head It rotates with the shaft II. The downward movement of the articles in proper relation to each other is facilitated by the grooves I, which lead toward the central opening 5, and which tend to direct the cartridges outward.

The plate I2 has a discharge opening I9 therein, as shown in Fig. 7, in position to lie directly beneath the ends of the tubes I5, as these are rotated by the shaft II, but direct the articles from the tubes successively. A chute is shown at 20, mounted beneath the discharge opening l9 and directed outwardly therefrom, as shown in Figs. 2 and '7, to a receptacle 2|, externally of the machine so constructed as to facilitate the removal of the articles from the receptacle.

The number of articles discharged for each operation may be regulated in a manner illustrated in Figs. 2 and 6. Each of the tubes I is provided with a notch 22 in the outer side thereof, extending inwardly to a point suflicient to intersect the axis of the tube. This notch should be disposed a sufiicient distance from the lower end of the tube, so as to allow one article to be located in the tube therebelow, when it is desired to dispense only one article from each tube upon each operation. The relation is shown in Fig. 7, when dispensing .22 cartridges. Extending transversely through the notches 22 is a flexible member or cable 23, one end of which is anchored at 24 at a stationary point upon the plate l2, to one end of a spring 25, which in turn is anchored at 25 in the shell I. The cable 23 extends through a sufficient number of the notches 22 to regulate the number of articles to be dispensed from each of the tubes l5, holding back all of the articles in each tube as it is presented to the discharge opening 19, except the lowermost article which is discharged therethrough.

The cage assembly is rotated step-by-step under control of a spring pawl 21, engaging in notches 28 in the periphery of the plate 14, as shown in Fig. 6, to allow rotation of the cage assembly to the desired extent and holding it against backward movement.

This rotating motion is accomplished by the ratchet mechanism generally shown in Figs. 2 and 3, which is coin-operated by a coin-receiving plate 29 slidably mounted in a guide 30. The plate 29 has a slot 3| therein receiving a pin 32, attached to an arm 33 journaled on the shaft II. The arm 33 carries a spring pawl 34 in position to engage a ratchet wheel 35, rigidly attached to the shaft l I.

When a coin is placed in the coin plate 23 and the latter operated back and forth through one stroke, the ratchet mechanism will be operated, and the coin dropped into a coin receptacle 36 formed in the bottom portion of the shell I, above the bottom plate 37. Access to this receptacle for the removal of the coin may be had upon opening of a door 38 in the front thereof, normally secured by a lock 39.

The details of the coin-operated mechanism are not illustrated since any suitable or desired mechanism for the purpose may be used, with the usual or customary provisions to insure against the operation in an unauthorized manner but only upon the insertion of a coin, and only to the extent represented by the coin.

In the operation of this vending machine, when it is desired to use the same for dispensing of cartridges, a coin may be inserted into the plate 23, and the latter pushed backward and drawn forward through one stroke. This will release the coin into the receptacle 36 and will serve also to operate the machine through one cycle. Ordinarily, a predetermined number of cartridges may be discharged as, for instance, three, when one coinis inserted.

The reciprocating movement of the plate 29 engaging the pin 32 will cause swinging movement of the arm 33 through one stroke, as from the dotted line to the full line position in Fig. 3. Then upon forward retraction of the plate 29, the lever 33 will be drawn to its dotted line position, acting through the pawl 34 to rotate the ratchet wheel 35 to the desired extent according to the setting of the machine. This will cause rotation of the shaft H and the cage assembly carried thereby. The rotation of the cage assembly will cause the desired number of the tubes l5, three in the example mentioned, to be presented one by one over the discharge opening l9, allowing the lowermost object in each of these tubes to be dropped through this opening into the chute 20, the objects thereabove being retained by the cable 22 which holds back these articles until the tubes have been rotated out of engagement with the cable, as will be evident from Fig. 6.

In the dispensing of cartridges, to insure orderly discharge thereof, it is desirable that these be directed through the tubes in end-wise relation. This is facilitated by the grooves I in the partition 6, which tend to facilitate the direction of the articles into the notches l8 in the periphery of the head 16, as the latter is rotated with the cage assembly. The deflector 8 supports the major portion of the bulk of articles in the hopper 3, but has its periphery spaced from the inner wall of the hopper to allow the articles to feed downward therebetween.

Thus it is possible to dispense a definite number of irregularly shaped objects by means of a coin-controlled mechanism, in a machine that is comparatively inexpensive and simple in construction and operation. It is especially practical for use in the dispensing of loaded cartridges in any desired number, as is often practical for use in a shooting gallery. However, the machine is not limited to such use and it may be used for the dispensing of many other types of articles, it being described in this embodiment merely for purpose of illustration.

While the invention has been illustrated and described in one embodiment, it is also recognized that variations and changes in construction may be made therein without departing from the invention, except as specified in the claims.

We claim:

1. A vending machine comprising a cage including a plurality of upright tubes adapted to contain articles, means mounting said cage for rotary movement, means forming a discharge opening in position to receive the articles from the tubes as the cage is rotated to direct the tubes successively to said opening, each of the tubes having a transverse opening therein, and a flexible device expansible and contractible between its ends and anchored at opposite ends, said devices extending transversely of the cage in bridging relation in position to enter the openings in the tubes successively to restrain certain of the articles against discharge therefrom, said flexible device being positioned so as to progressively intercept the tubes as said tubes advance toward the disharge opening.

2. A vending machine comprising a cage including a. plurality of upright tubes adapted to contain articles, means mounting said cage for rotary movement, means forming a discharge opening in position to receive the articles from the tubes as the cage is rotated to direct the tubes successively to said opening, each of the tubes having a transverse opening therein, a flexible member extending transversely of the cage in position to enter progressively at least several of the transverse openings in the tubes as the latter are advanced to and recede from the discharge opening in position to restrain certain of the articles from discharge, means anchoring one end of said flexible member, and yieldable means connected with the opposite ends of said flexible member.

3. A vending machine comprising an upright shell, transverse supports mounted in said shell in vertically spaced relation, a shaft extending in an upright direction in the shell, a cage fixed to the shaft and including top and bottom plates connected together by upright tubes arranged for rotation with the shaft, a hopper adapted to contain articles and arranged in position to direct the articles into the tubes, a support extending transversely over the hopper, a sleeve carried by the support and extending downwardly therefrom around the shaft, and a deflector plate carried by the sleeve and extending transversely in the lower portion of the hopper in position to deflect the articles therein and to direct said articles from the hopper to the tubes.

4. A vending machine comprising an upright shell, transverse supports mounted in said shell in vertically spaced relation, a shaft extending in an upright direction in the shell, a cage fixed to the shaft and including top and bottom plates connected together by upright tubes arranged for rotation with the shaft, a hopper adapted to contain articles and arranged in position to direct the articles into the tubes, said upper transverse support having an opening therein in position to receive the articles from the hopper, and a head fixed to the tubes and shaft and mounted in said opening, said head having peripheral upright grooves therein in vertical alignment with the tubes and in position to receive the articles from the hopper and to direct said articles downwardly therefrom into the tubes.

5. A vending machine comprising an upright shell, transverse supports mounted in said shell in vertically spaced relation, a shaft extending in an upright direction in the shell, a cage fixed to the shaft and including top and bottom plates connected together by upright tubes arranged for rotation with the shaft, a hopper adapted to contain articles and arranged in position to direct the articles into the tubes, said upper transverse support having an opening therein in position to receive the articles from the hopper, and a head fixed to the tubes and shaft and mounted in said opening, said head having peripheral upright grooves therein in vertical alignment with the tubes and in position to receive the articles from the hopper and to direct said articles downwardly therefrom into the tubes, said upper transverse support having a downwardly inclined upper portion forming an extension of the hopper and extending downwardly to a point appreciably below the top of the head and below the upper ends of the grooves therein to direct the articles from the hopper into the grooves.

6. A vending machine comprising an upright shell, transverse supports mounted in said shell in vertically spaced relation, a shaft extending in an upright direction in the shell, a cage fixed to the shaft and including top and bottom plates connected together by upright tubes arranged for rotation with the shaft, a hopper adapted to contain articles and arranged in position to direct the articles into the tubes, said upper transverse support having an opening therein in position to receive the articles from the hopper, a head fixed to the tubes and shaft and mounted in said opening, said head having peripheral up right grooves therein in vertical alignment with the tubes and in position to receive the articles from the hopper and to direct said articles downwardly therefrom into the tubes, said upper transverse support having a downwardly inclined upper portion forming an extension of the hopper and extending downwardly to a point appreciably below the top of the head and below the upper ends of the grooves therein to direct the articles from the hopper into the grooves, pawl and ratchet means connected with the shaft for rotating the cage, and means forming a discharge passage for the articles and in position to receive the articles successively from the tubes upon rotation of the cage.

'7. A vending machine comprising a cage having a plurality of upright receptacles therein adapted to contain articles, means mounting said cage for rotation, means forming a discharge opening in position to receive the articles successively from the receptacles upon rotation of the cage, mechanism for causing rotation of the cage, each of said receptacles having a transverse opening therethrough, and a flexible device having means anchorin opposite end portions thereof and extending in bridging relation in position to enter the openings in the receptacles successively to restrain certain of the articles against discharge therefrom as the cage is rotated.

8. A vending machine comprising a cage having a plurality of upright receptacles therein adapted to contain articles, means mounting said cage for rotation, means forming a discharge opening in position to receive the articles successively from the receptacles upon rotation of the cage, coin-controlled mechanism for causing rotation of the cage, each of said receptacles having a transverse opening therethrough, and a flexible cable extending circumferentially of the cage having means anchoring opposite end portions of said cable and in position to enter the openings in the receptacles as the cage is rotated for successively restraining certain of the articels against discharge therefrom to the discharge opening.

9. A vending machine comprising a cage having a plurality of upright receptacles therein adapted to contain articles, means mountin said cage for rotation, means forming a discharge opening in position to receive the articles successively from the receptacles upon rotation of the cage, coin-controlled mechanism for causing rotation of the cage, each of said receptacles having a transverse opening therethrough, and a flexible cable extending circumferentially of the cage havin means anchoring opposite end portions of said cable and in position to enter the openings in the receptacles as the cage is rotated for successively restraining certain of the articles against discharge therefrom to the discharge opening, the anchoring means for one end of the cable including a coiled spring applying yieldable tension to the cable.

10. A vending machine comprising a shell having a hopper therein for containing articles, a cage including upright receptacles rotatably mounted relative to the shell, said receptacles havin inlet ends opening into the hopper, and a deflector plate mounted in the hopper with its periphery overlapping said inlet ends of the receptacles and spaced at its perip ery from the inner surface of the hopper in close proximity thereto, said hopper having depressions therein extending under the periphery of the deflector plate to the inlet ends of the receptacles to direct the articles thereto.

11. A vendin machine comprising a cage having a plurality of upright rceptacles therein adapted to contain articles, means mounting said cage for rotation, means forming a discharge opening in position to receive the articles successively from the receptacles upon rotation of the 10 cage, mechanism for causing rotation of the cage, each of said receptacles having a transverse opening therethrough, and a flexible device includingan elastic portion and having means anchoring opposite end portions thereof and extending in 15 bridging relation in position to enter the openings in the receptacles successively to restrain cer- 8 tain of the articles against discharge therefrom as the cage is rotated.

DANIEL BROYLES. CALVIN RUSSELL.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 825,555 Pool July 10, 1906 912,455 Finney Feb. 16, 1909 1,149,618 Birsfield Aug. 10, 1915 1,627,547 Antoine et a1 May 10, 1927 1,651,605 Kuhn et al Dec. 6, 1927 2,176,232 Warren et a1 Oct. 17, 1939 

